What should I do with my neon tetra?

[aquafish14]

I was away for just over a week, and my neighbor was feeding my fish. When I came back I did a water change, and I discovered one of my neons was stuck inside the filter between the wall and the sponge. I dont know how long he was stuck like this I let him out of there and he did not look good at all. He was floating on his side and upside down, and having a hard time swimming down. Also he had a white patch on his back and did not want to eat anything. I put him in a bowl (I dont have a quarantine tank) because I feared NTD due to the white patch. He was floating lifelessly upside down so I thought he was already dead. I let him stay in the bowl that night because it was late, but the next day he was swimming again like normal! He now swims and eats like normal, but the white patch is still there. I put him in a bag in the aquarium because I feared the bowl would be too cold as it does not have a heater, and if he has NTD, I dont want the rest to get it. I will attach some photos of the fish. Does this look like NTD to you?? Or just an injury from when he was stuck? And do you have any suggestion on how to treat this fish?

 

[Byron]

So long as the fish continues to be able to remain in the water (as opposed to lying motionless on a surface permanently), and is apparently able to eat, I would just leave it. No way to tell what internal damage may have occurred, if any, and it would not be treatable anyway. The fish will survive, or it will not. Permanent lying on the substrate unable to move and eat would cause me to net it out and euthanize it, but only if that state occurs.

 

[Slaphppy7]

I would euthanize if he doesn't improve...fish usually get stuck to filters not by accident, but because they are weakened

 

[aquafish14]

Okay thank you! I will just observe him for now then ?

 

[Naughts]

Cover the filter intake to prevent further accidents. You can buy a cylindrical sponge or use the foot from a pair of tights.